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Breast Reconstruction Surgery in New Orleans, LA
Helping You Feel Whole Again
Board-certified reconstructive surgeon
Fellowship-trained in microsurgery
Options for the breast and nipple
New Orleans’ Choice for Breast Reconstruction
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Prestigious Associations
Dr. Ravi Tandon has committed his career to helping breast cancer patients. To help ensure he was able to provide the best care possible, he completed a prestigious reconstructive microsurgery fellowship at New York University Medical Center. Since becoming a practicing surgeon, he has earned membership in various distinguished organizations like the American Society of Plastic Surgery and the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery.
Advanced Techniques
Our breast reconstruction surgeon in New Orleans, LA, constantly stays on the cutting edge, learning, honing, and performing the most advanced techniques. By becoming an expert in various breast reconstruction methods, he can offer a variety of customized options that suit each of his New Orleans and Metairie patients' individual needs. His high level of skill and knowledge also allows him to explain his complex procedures in easy-to-understand terms.
Proven Results
Dr. Tandon has spent years providing life-changing results for his patients. In successfully completing so many breast reconstruction procedures following a mastectomy in New Orleans, LA, he has proven time and again his ability to restore women's bodies following cancer. In addition to proving himself in the operating room, our surgeon demonstrated that he possesses knowledge and skill beyond that of a regular surgeon by earning board certification.
Federal Law Protects Mastectomy Patients' Budgets
The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 is a federal law that is overseen by the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services. The law states that group health plans are required to pay for mastectomy, breast reconstruction, prostheses, and any treatment or surgery needed to address complications of a mastectomy. Reconstruction is also covered under Medicare.
Louisiana Medicaid covers breast reconstruction in many cases. Medicaid patients coming from outside Louisiana should keep in mind that Medicaid coverage varies from state to state. We encourage you to speak with our team about coverage; we are happy to answer any and all of your questions.
Natural Breast Reconstruction
Natural breast reconstruction uses tissue from a healthy region of your body to create reconstructed breasts. Natural reconstruction provides more organic-looking results than other methods and, unlike reconstruction with breast implants, lasts permanently.
At our plastic surgery center, we provide natural-tissue plastic surgery with the following surgical techniques:
Fat Grafting
When using the surgical technique known as fat grafting, Dr. Tandon performs liposuction to gather fat from other areas of the body before utilizing it to reconstruct breasts. Fat grafting can be combined with the methods described below for especially natural results.
Perforator Flaps
This type of breast reconstruction uses a section of skin, fat, and blood vessels from elsewhere on the body to create a new breast. Because your own tissue is used, results will look and feel more natural. Perforator flap surgeries such as DIEP flap in New Orleans, LA, do not use muscle tissue, meaning an easier recovery and less risk of muscle weakness after surgery.
Myocutaneous Flaps
This surgical technique utilizes skin, fat, and muscle tissue from the body to achieve breast reconstruction. Since removing the muscle can reduce strength and lead to other side effects, Dr. Tandon typically only recommends this surgery when patients are not good candidates for a muscle-sparing technique.
Breast Reconstruction
With Implants
Our plastic surgeon utilizes advanced techniques to ensure that breast reconstruction surgery with implants in New Orleans, LA, mimics the appearance of natural breasts. Notably, Dr. Tandon offers pre-pectoral placement of implants. This is a novel implant surgery technique that involves implant placement under the skin but above the muscles, allowing for a shorter recovery, less pain, and an absence of visible implant distortion compared to traditional breast implant methods.
Like natural reconstruction, breast reconstruction with implants can be performed in conjunction with your mastectomy to restore breast shape, size, and symmetry. When these surgeries are performed at the same time, Dr. Tandon will work with your oncologist to coordinate the two procedures for optimal timing and results.
Hybrid Breast Reconstruction
At our plastic surgery center, patients do not necessarily have to choose between the organic look of natural reconstruction and the increased size of breast augmentation, as we offer hybrid breast reconstruction in New Orleans, LA, that incorporates the techniques of both to stunning effect.
This option is particularly sought after by women who want the look of natural breast reconstruction, but lack enough excess tissue to construct breasts of the size they want. When completing a hybrid breast reconstruction, Dr. Tandon performs a DIEP flap procedure to transplant tissue from your abdominal area to your breasts before placing implants, resulting in larger breasts that are still natural-looking and symmetrical.
Advanced Techniques for Resensation
Dr. Tandon is among the handful of surgeons qualified to perform the Resensation® procedure, which can be done alongside or after breast reconstruction to restore sensation to the breast and nipple. Dr. Tandon completed a reconstructive microsurgery fellowship at the NYU Medical Center.
Delayed Reconstruction May Be Necessary
Breast reconstruction surgery is often performed at the same time as a mastectomy or lumpectomy; however, this is not the best option for every patient. While immediate reconstruction has advantages like minimizing the number of surgeries needed and reducing potential scarring, there are some reasons to hold off on reconstructive care.
If you need radiation therapy, it can be wise to delay surgery because in some cases a reconstructed breast may block radiation from fully reaching the cancer cells. Radiation can have serious negative impacts on your reconstruction, such as slow healing time, increasing the risk of capsular contracture, thinning the skin and tissue around the breasts, and breast asymmetry.
As a highly experienced plastic surgeon, Dr. Tandon will recommend a delayed or immediate breast reconstruction based on the specific details of your situation.
